What do you pay US customs.

[WallyJ]

$453.75. On a bluesy sub. In Nassau.
Newbie here. I searched for a definitive answer and found only (1) wear it, (2) and no clear answer on the duty owed. On May 16, 2018 , I arranged for my watch to be waiting at the Baha Mar AD in Nassau during a fishing trip with my son. I paid $11,475. On my return to the US, I had two options; (1) wear it and sneak it in, or (2) declare it. I declared it.
This is what happened. When you get to the kiosk, you have to check a question which lets customs know you purchased something more than 10k. When you get to the booth, the officer asks you what did you buy? Have your receipt ready and you might get waved through, but my receipt was buried in my box deep in my backpack. So I was whisked away to a back room. There I was advised that 1,600 would be deducted as duty free(800x2, for my son and I). The next 2,000 was taxed at a flat rate of 3%. The balance taxed at 5%. You can pay by credit card. So 11,475-1,600= 9,875. Then 2,000 at 3% = 60.00. Then the balance of
7,875 was taxed at 5%= 393.75. Total= $453.75. I kept the receipt. Took a pic and will keep it in my iPhone for future trips. But I hope I’m in the system. If not, I can in good conscience say I paid duty on future trips out of the US.

Option (2) wear it. It’s easy . Just hide your box in checked bag and lie. You will probably be waived through. But considering the local AD wouldn’t budge off 13,400 ,plus sales tax and a trusted seller on the gray market was 11,750, I figured even with duty I was still ahead. The 453.75 was almost paid by the points earned by making the initial purchase on a credit card.
Now I own my dream watch on a fishing trip with my son, which he will pry off my wrist when my time here is finished. He got two Kalik beers thrown in by the AD to celebrate. ( sure beats a Diet Coke from a US AD).

Hope this helps someone else.

[nocaps]

thanks for the info. this comes in handy since my son
is currently in singapore armed with a shopping list from me.

[cptdean]

Thanks for this post. My wife is currently in Australia and will be picking up an Explorer 214270 (with an extra link) we secured at an AD last week. She's declaring it on her return and should expect to pay no more than $235 in duty (even less if she can use my 5 yo daughter for another $800 allowance).

Thanks to the current exchange rate, and a 10% GST refund, we'll be saving at least $735 against US retail for the watch and link. The best deal I could find in the States was retail plus $100 shipping from an out-of-state AD (which is still a fair price).

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by WallyJ

$453.75. On a bluesy sub. In Nassau.
I paid $11,475.

Option (2) wear it. It’s easy . Just hide your box in checked bag and lie. You will probably be waived through. But considering the local AD wouldn’t budge off 13,400 ,plus sales tax and a trusted seller on the gray market was 11,750, I figured even with duty I was still ahead.

I applaud you for doing the right thing. And buying on a trip is a nice memory. But I question your math. You paid $11,928.75 all-in vs. $11,750 from a trusted seller. Worth the premium, IMO, but still a premium.

[tyler1980]

why anyone would chose option 2 is crazy. Its a small fee especially if you just got a 20% vat refunded as a lot of people do coming back from europe.

[Tonyfsu21]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

why anyone would chose option 2 is crazy. Its a small fee especially if you just got a 20% vat refunded as a lot of people do coming back from europe.

99.9% of people choose option # 2.... go figure.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Tonyfsu21

99.9% of people choose option # 2.... go figure.

i travel too much to get my passport flagged for enhanced screening every time i go anywhere and have global entry revoked Etc.

That savings is less than minimum wage by a lot when you factor in the hours and hours you will spend in passport control lines in the future, if you get caught.

[CRM114]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

i travel too much to get my passport flagged for enhanced screening every time i go anywhere and have global entry revoked Etc.

That savings is less than minimum wage by a lot when you factor in the hours and hours you will spend in passport control lines in the future, if you get caught.

This exactly. The duty bringing something like a Rolex into the U.S. is by world standards very low. The price you pay getting caught using Option #2 is being flagged on future entries for special attention. It's not like you remain nameless, faceless, and numberless to whatever future CBP agent with a computer that's holding your passport.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by WallyJ

Option (2) wear it. It’s easy . Just hide your box in checked bag and lie.

Falsifying a federal document is a felony.

No watch or criminal record is worth that.

Thank you for declaring your purchases upon re-entry into the US

[Boaters]

Two great points to you, great first post on the forum and for being a stand-up guy and doing the right thing.